Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch
Pandora 2.0 for iPhone
Pandora's app was one of the iPhone's best of 2008 on iTunes, and while I've only recently started using it, I have to agree: even over EDGE, it's a great way to get some music you've never heard on the iPhone. And they aren't sitting on their laurels, either -- they've just updated the app to version 2.0, and it's better than ever.New in this version is the ability to access a progress bar for the songs you're listening to, and the option to create new stations from songs or artists right there in the app itself. It's definitely worth a look [iTunes link], and you can't beat the price of admission (still completely free).
I've followed Pandora from the beginning, and they've constantly updated both their website and their features since they first released -- it's all developed into a really impressive set of functionality for listening to and finding new music. They have suffered some rumors of shutdowns, but hopefully those rumors are just that. Between the remarkable set of functions on their website and this iPhone app, they're becoming more and more invaluable for serious music listeners.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Robert Brown said 4:52PM on 1-07-2009
It is unfortunate that the content cannot be streamed if you are from the UK.
The UK misses out once again.
:-(
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Rylin said 6:35PM on 1-07-2009
Have a look at Spotify.
P2P streaming, currently more than two million songs from the major labels with more content being added constantly.
Available ad-based in some countries, subscription based for a few others, and they're constantly expanding to new countries whenever they can.
You get to chose the music you play, and the quality is pretty good at Ogg Vorbis -q5.
It's head, shoulders and a pogo stick taller than any other service out there.
Better yet, it's not available in the US yet, so the usually smug Americans are somewhat upset, proclaiming the apocalypse, heat death of the universe and the company going under.
It's fun to see the tables turned ;-)
Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with the company other than being a very, very satisfied customer.
Flunky Carter said 2:32AM on 1-08-2009
Shut your disgusting face Rylin. You foreign mooley.
John said 9:01PM on 1-07-2009
I wondered if Pandora got a bit of $$$ from Apple. The Genius playlist may be using some of the music genome project info.
total speculation
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sinX80 said 5:00PM on 1-07-2009
2.0 also added cover flow!
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itsmeee said 5:34PM on 1-07-2009
Didn't apple just deny an app that recreated coverflow because they said it used undocumented API's (I forget if they did, though I seem to remember it was a no).
I like the coverflow although its kind of jerky :/ Apple should really open it up to developers.
itsmeee said 5:34PM on 1-07-2009
expect a 2.1 very soon as the current version doesn't realize you can buy itunes tracks when your not connected to wifi.
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Flunky Carter said 2:33AM on 1-08-2009
amen
Colin Fox said 5:50PM on 1-07-2009
Not in Canada either. Guess we are still a foreign country when it comes to Apple....
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Flunky Carter said 2:34AM on 1-08-2009
apple doesn't make pandora.
Shunnabunich said 2:56AM on 1-08-2009
True, they don't, but he does have a point there...
Flunky Carter said 12:07PM on 1-08-2009
What point? The point that any country other than the country where an app is developed is foreign? You're on target to winning a nobel prize there chipster.
jonathan said 6:13PM on 1-07-2009
pandora's royalty license is only good for the USA. if you go to their FAQ's on the website, you'll see that it totally depends on what country u are from to listen. in UK for example they want to charge them close to 80% of operating costs. so they wont broadcast there.
i totally understand and feel bad for everyone outside the US that wants in...but pandora is not willing to break the law and get screwed.
side note, you can also turn the iphone landscape and get a cover-flow style view of all songs you last played. you still cannot rewind or go back to another song, another restriction of their licensing.
and @Colin Fox....yes i'm sorry to inform you but Canada is still a foreign country. the US has not chosen to annex you. sorry for the confusion (unless that was some sort of joke or movie reference i missed lol)
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Virtuous said 6:22PM on 1-07-2009
It's the fault of the evil music companies, not Apple.
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Dave said 8:40PM on 1-07-2009
Pandora rocks, I'm really glad to see they're continuing to develop the app. Version 2.0 works great for me, keep up the good work!
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Jack Chance said 3:30AM on 1-08-2009
i love pandora. but i hate that if i check email or an sms or whatever the music stops.
I know this is apple's fault, not pandora's but it still makes the app a lot less appealing. (also the battery drain is a ..... drain)
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nic said 8:27AM on 1-10-2009
you could create new stations for artists/songs in Pandora v1...
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